Hamas delivered two bodies purported to be deceased Israeli captives on Thursday, following a day of Israeli airstrikes that caused multiple casualties in Gaza, including women and children. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed the receipt of the bodies through the Red Cross, which will now be transferred to Israel for identification.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the remaining 20 hostages in exchange for the release of around 250 Palestinians convicted or suspected of security offenses by Israel, along with 1,700 adults and 22 minors detained during the conflict without charges. Additionally, Hamas agreed to surrender all 28 deceased captives in return for 360 militants killed by Israeli forces during the war, with 15 bodies handed over by Thursday.
Israel has criticized Hamas for delays in handing over the remaining bodies, while Hamas contends that locating and retrieving all the remains will take time. Families of the hostages are eager to provide proper burials and fear losing their loved ones beneath the rubble of Gaza, where thousands of presumed deceased individuals remain missing.
The disagreement over the recovery and transfer of bodies has complicated U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict. Challenges ahead include the governance of Gaza and the demand for Hamas to disarm, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
Israeli witnesses reported 10 airstrikes by Israeli aircraft in southern Gaza and shelling by tanks in the north, with no reported casualties. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure threatening its troops in the area where they are stationed. Israel retaliated against an attack on its soldiers, resulting in one fatality.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 46 children and 20 women, while Israel claims to have targeted numerous militants. Residents of Gaza express concerns about a potential return to conflict, citing the hardships endured due to displacement and uncertainty about the future.
The war has uprooted the majority of Gaza’s over two million inhabitants, with many still displaced and reluctant to return home for fear of further displacement.